Media Releases

Over 400 PolyU students and staff participate in Service-Learning programme in Wenshan, Yunnan; Largest-ever initiative in Chinese Mainland, spanning diverse projects from six faculties and schools

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has long embraced holistic education as a critical part of its undergraduate curriculum. In particular, Service-Learning enables students to apply their university-learned knowledge and skills to support communities in need, with the aim of nurturing socially responsible professionals and leaders with a strong sense of national pride and a global perspective. Supported by the People’s Government of Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province, and local charitable organisations, this year PolyU operated its largest-ever Service-Learning programme in Wenshan from May to July. More than 400 students and staff members took part in nine projects, benefiting over 4,000 local residents and helping to inject lasting vitality into the local community. PolyU established a Service-Learning base in Yunnan in the 2023/24 academic year and since then has expanded its local partnership network to align service content more closely with community needs while creating real-world settings for students’ learning. The University has also signed cooperation agreements with the Communist Youth League Committee of Wenshan Prefecture and the People’s Government of Malipo County to establish a long-term collaborative mechanism between the University and local communities. This summer, six PolyU faculties and schools launched nine Service-Learning projects in Wenshan, Yunnan. In a project developed by the Department of Computing, students created an artificial intelligence digital human platform for elderly residents in a nursing home to recreate their memories and life experiences, preserving precious stories through technology. Another project, led by the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, saw students utilise smart tools to help villagers develop digital cultural tourism innovation solutions such as multimedia guide information, transforming cultural resources into development momentum. Meanwhile, the School of Fashion and Textiles launched a project in which students collaborated with embroidery artists to integrate traditional Zhuang Embroidery techniques into vibrant, contemporary fashion design, promoting the innovative inheritance of intangible cultural heritage. In a project launched by the Department of Computing, students created an artificial intelligence digital human platform for elderly residents in a nursing home to recreate their memories and life experiences, preserving precious stories through technology. The School of Fashion and Textiles launched a project in which students collaborated with embroidery artists to integrate traditional Zhuang Embroidery techniques into vibrant, contemporary fashion design, promoting the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage. The Wenshan Service-Learning programme collaborated with 12 local service organisations, including vocational schools, homes for the elderly, primary and secondary schools, and village committees, delivering tangible benefits to grassroots communities. With support from the Ministry of Education’s “Ten Thousand People’s Scheme,” an exchange programme for students and faculty of Hong Kong and Macao universities with Chinese Mainland institutions, this year PolyU also engaged around 100 students and staff from Yunnan University, Yunnan Minzu University and Shenzhen University in the service projects. This synergy further promoted PolyU’s Service-Learning pedagogy, deepened youth exchanges between the Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland, and built a new collaborative model for talent cultivation. PolyU students participating on the Service-Learning programme described the experience as highly rewarding, strengthening their enthusiasm for serving society and the country. LI Kwan-to, a Year 4 student from the Department of Computing, shared his view that the programme had bridged the gap between the classroom and the real world, and had allowed his innovations to be translated into tangible support for the elderly, making the learning experience both vivid and meaningful. FAN Yanjun, a Year 2 student from the School of Accounting and Finance, said that Service-Learning was a journey of heart-to-heart exchange, and hoped this sincerity could be passed on from one generation to the next, fostering better people-to-people connection. Prof. Grace NGAI, Head of the Service-Learning and Leadership Office of PolyU, stated, “Over the past decade, PolyU has accumulated extensive Service-Learning experience in Chinese Mainland, leaving our footprints throughout the country. We have taken our students to different Mainland cities, and even remote villages and ethnic minority communities, to serve vulnerable groups such as the elderly and left-behind children. This experience not only enriches our students’ learning and hones their skills and knowledge, but also enables them to gain a deeper understanding of the Nation, and to develop global citizenship and a strong sense of social responsibility. With these qualities, they can proactively contribute their strengths to meet the development needs of the Nation and beyond.” As the first Hong Kong university to incorporate Service-Learning as a core element of the undergraduate curriculum, PolyU has long encouraged students to care about society, apply what they have learnt and respond to social needs proactively. The University is committed to promoting high-quality Service-Learning projects, and currently runs multiple service-learning bases in Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, Southeast Asia and Africa. More than 50,000 PolyU students have enrolled on service-learning subjects since 2012 and contributed over two million service hours in total—demonstrating PolyU students’ sense of social responsibility and youth leadership.   ***END***

PolyU holds flag-raising ceremony to celebrate 29th anniversary of establishment of the HKSAR

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today held a flag-raising ceremony on campus to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The flag-raising ceremony was officiated by PolyU Council Chairman Dr LAM Tai-fai; Acting President Prof. Wing-tak WONG; Mr SONG Yiping, Second-Level Inspector of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR; and Mr TIAN Zhenfeng, Deputy Director of the Consular Department of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR. They were joined by Deputy Council Chairman Dr Daniel YIP Chung-yin, University Court Chairman Dr Katherine NGAN NG Yu-ying; Treasurer of the University Mr Arthur LEE Kin; Honorary Court Chairman Dr Roy CHUNG Chi-ping; and President Emeritus Prof. the Honourable POON Chung-kwong, together with Council and Court members, other University senior management, Honorary Graduates, University Fellows, Outstanding Alumni, members of the PolyU Foundation, PolyU staff, students and alumni, wishing prosperity and stability for the Nation and Hong Kong. The ceremony was jointly conducted by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison and the PolyU Student Flag-Raising Team. Dr Lam Tai-fai said, “This year marks the 29th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the Motherland and the inaugural year of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. In alignment with these milestones, the HKSAR Government is formulating its first Five‑Year Plan to map out a strategic blueprint for Hong Kong’s future development. This year also marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, further underscoring the Nation’s thriving development. Today, China’s growing comprehensive national strength and rising international influence fully demonstrate the vibrancy and prosperity of the Nation in this new era. In the face of these new opportunities, PolyU, as a key member of Hong Kong’s higher education sector and ranked 50th in the latest QS World University Rankings, is committed to keeping pace with the development of the Nation and Hong Kong. Upholding our educational mission, we strive to nurture in our students a strong sense of national pride, a global outlook and a deep commitment to social responsibilities. We encourage them to integrate their personal aspirations into the Nation’s undertakings, and to become virtuous and competent talents with an affection for the Nation and Hong Kong, who are ready to serve society and contribute to the country.” He continued, “PolyU will fully leverage its strengths in education, research and knowledge transfer to support the Nation’s development into a powerhouse in technology, education and talent cultivation. The University will also make greater contributions towards Hong Kong’s integration into, and support for, the Nation’s overall development strategy, thereby enhancing the city’s international competitiveness and achieving high-quality development.” PolyU has been organising the “PolyU Chinese Culture Festival” series of events since 2024 to promote Chinese culture, aiming to enhance the younger generation’s awareness and appreciation of Chinese culture and strengthen their sense of national identity. Following the flag-raising ceremony, PolyU screened the documentary “Confucius” at the Jockey Club Auditorium as one of the events under the PolyU Chinese Culture Festival. Confucianism, founded by Confucius, constitutes a vital part of traditional Chinese culture and has had a profound influence on the formation and development of the value system of the Chinese. The documentary, screening for the first-time in Hong Kong, uses vivid and expressive imagery to present this renowned Chinese thinker, politician, and educator. Both the flag-raising and documentary filming were attended by close to 400 distinguished guests and members of the PolyU community. ***END***

PolyU showcases life sciences and healthcare innovations at BIO International Convention 2026

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) presented cutting-edge innovations and technology transfer achievements to global industry leaders at the BIO International Convention 2026 (BIO 2026), held from 22 to 25 June in San Diego. The exhibited projects spanned diverse fields—from first-in-class drug development, nutraceuticals, drug discovery platform, medical devices and diagnostics to optometry—demonstrating PolyU excellence in life sciences and healthcare interdisciplinary research. As one of the world’s largest biotechnology conventions, BIO 2026 brought together over 20,000 industry leaders and professionals from more than 76 countries and regions to exchange insights on key topics in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, including research and development of new drugs, clinical trials, manufacturing, investment and commercialisation, thereby promoting global biotechnology development. This year, PolyU joined the Hong Kong delegation led by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) for the first time. Including four other local universities and over 40 life sciences and health technology companies, the delegation showcased Hong Kong’s dynamic biotech ecosystem at the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion. Notably, a PolyU startup, ABRAM Therapeutics, was invited to participate in the pitching session, where it introduced its ground-breaking drug candidate. In addition, the PolyU delegation actively engaged in networking events organised by its collaboration partners, including a visit to the Salk Institute coordinated by HKSTP and networking events hosted by Business France and Simcere Pharmaceutical. These activities facilitated valuable exchanges with global biotechnology experts and fostered new collaborative opportunities. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation), stated, “The BIO International Convention has long been an important platform for PolyU to connect with global partners and explore impactful international opportunities. Leveraging its research strengths and innovative capabilities in medical fields such as biotechnology and medicine-engineering integration, PolyU is dedicated to advancing translational research in relevant areas and accelerating the development of ground-breaking technologies for the benefit of society. Joining the Hong Kong Pavilion this year reflects our shared commitment to elevating Hong Kong’s position to that of a leading biotech hub through cross-sector collaboration.” PolyU innovations exhibited at BIO 2026: “PD 001R: A First in Class drug Candidate for the Treatment of Parkinson’s disease,” led by Prof. LEE Ming-yuen, Simon, Cally Kwong Mei Wan Professor in Biomedical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Innovation, and Chair Professor of Biomedical Sciences of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition “ABarginase: the next wave of weight loss therapy against global obesity,” led by Prof. LEUNG Yun-chung, Thomas, Lo Ka Chung Charitable Foundation Professor in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology “pCAR-M: THE SOLID TUMOR SOLUTION,” led by Prof. Terence LEE, Associate Head and Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology “A Novel Synergistic Neuroprotective Composition with Anti-inflammatory and Neuroprotective functions,” led by Prof. Sonata YAU, Associate Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences “PocNova™: Ultra-Fast Nucleic Acid Testing System,” led by Prof. Thomas LEE, Associate Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering “Next-Generation Diabetes Solutions Powered by Metabolic Factors,” led by Prof. WONG Chi Ming, Associate Professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics “AI‑assisted platform integrating α‑synuclein seed amplification assays and hyperactive LRRK2 models for discovery of therapeutic LRRK2 inhibitors in Parkinson’s disease,” led by Prof. Philip HO, Assistant Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences “SwallowScope: Scanner Designed for Intelligent Tele-Dysphagia Care,” led by Prof. James CHEUNG, Assistant Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering “Adaptive Freeform Eyeglass for Instant Refractive Control,” led by Dr Elie de LESTRANGE-ANGINIEUR, Research Fellow of the School of Optometry With a robust foundation in medicine and healthcare research, PolyU strives to advance interdisciplinary research and technology transfer at the convergence of biotechnology, artificial intelligence, engineering and data science, pioneering a new era of healthcare innovation, and contributing to Hong Kong’s development into an international health and medical innovation hub.   ***END***

PolyU hosted its third thematic seminar on China’s diplomacy, featuring former ambassadors of China who shed light on the global landscape and diplomatic practice

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Research Centre for Chinese History and Culture (RCCHC), Confucius Institute of Hong Kong and Mainland Development Office, in collaboration with the China Foreign Affairs University, co-organised the third thematic seminar on China’s diplomacy at PolyU Chiang Chen Studio Theatre. As one of the flagship events of the PolyU Chinese Culture Festival, the seminar invited former ambassadors of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Ambassador ZHAN Yongxin and Ambassador HUANG Ping, to deliver keynote speeches on the theme of “Navigating the Current Global Landscape: Insights into the Practice of China's Diplomacy” while sharing knowledge of diplomacy and their first-hand experiences. The event drew the keen participation of over 200 PolyU staff members, students, alumni and members of the public. In his speech, Dr LAM Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman, remarked, “The world today is undergoing changes unseen in a century. Amid the rapidly evolving international landscape, geopolitical conflicts continue to escalate, bringing numerous risks and challenges to the world. At this complex and fast-changing juncture, we can deeply appreciate the vital importance and pivotal role of major-country diplomacy. National security, economic development, the well-being of the people and world peace are all inextricably linked to diplomacy. Over the years, China has unswervingly pursued the path of peaceful development, actively promoted the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and adhered to the concept of win-win cooperation, constantly injecting stability and positive energy into a world intertwined with change and turbulence.” He also noted, “PolyU has always attached great importance to students’ national education, Chinese cultural education and the cultivation of a global perspective. We require all undergraduate students to study a subject related to Chinese history and culture, and organise the ‘PolyU Chinese Culture Festival’ to promote Chinese culture and help students gain a better understanding of our Nation. This seminar is one of the key events of the Festival. We hope that through personal sharing of the two ambassadors, students can obtain a deeper grasp of the Nation's diplomatic policy and global development trends.” He added that next year marks the 90th anniversary of the establishment of PolyU. Having developed into a global top 50 university, PolyU will continue to nurture a strong sense of national pride, a global outlook and the desire to shoulder social responsibilities in students, developing them into talents with an affection for the Nation and Hong Kong, possessing both virtue and competence, who serve society and contribute to the Nation. Ambassador Zhan Yongxin, former ambassador of the PRC, has served as the Ambassador of the PRC to the State of Israel; Director-General of the Department of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Deputy Commissioner of the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong SAR; Deputy Director-General of the Policy Planning Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Counsellor of the Embassy of the PRC in Canada. He has developed acute insights into the current global landscape and trends in Asia-Pacific economic cooperation. Ambassador Zhan Yongxin stated: “Since joining the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, China has actively participated in cooperation across various fields, serving as an active advocate and steadfast practitioner of regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific. At this very moment, when the world stands at a crossroads, China has taken the initiative to host this year’s APEC informal meeting—stepping forward at a most crucial and challenging time for global and Asia-Pacific development, guiding the region and the world towards the correct path of openness, innovation and cooperation. This demonstrates its strong sense of responsibility as a major country.” He added that the APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting will be held in Hong Kong this year, expressing confidence that Hong Kong can leverage its unique strengths as a hub connecting the Chinese Mainland and the Asia-Pacific, harness the opportunities of regional cooperation, and inject impetus into industrial development, talent exchange and long-term economic growth. In addition, Ambassador Huang Ping, former ambassador of the PRC, delivered a keynote speech on “Building Bridges through People-to-People Diplomacy: Actively Advancing US-China Relations”. He has served as the Consul General of the PRC in New York (Ambassadorial Rank), Ambassador of the PRC to Zimbabwe, Director-General of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consul General of the PRC in Chicago, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Mayor of Shaoxing City in Zhejiang Province, Counsellor and Consul General of the Embassy of the PRC in Canada, and Third Secretary of the Embassy of the PRC in the United States (US). Ambassador Huang Ping pointed out that people-to-people diplomacy could build bridges of communication between China and the US, foster friendly communication among citizens and the youth, promote pragmatic cooperation, and enhance people-to-people exchanges. Over his 42-year diplomatic career, Ambassador Huang has been posted to the US three times and actively participated in various forms of city promotion. This included collaborating with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETO New York) to promote Hong Kong’s unique characteristics in New York’s Times Square, and personally participating in dragon boat races organised by HKETO New York, through which he led by example to promote people-to-people diplomacy. He explained: “We hope to develop multi-dimensional people-to-people diplomacy by building more channels of communication and cooperation between the peoples of both sides to enhance mutual understanding and trust, thereby fostering people-to-people bonds and steering bilateral relations towards steady and long-term progress.” ***END***

PolyU debuts at VivaTech 2026, championing global collaboration and Hong Kong’s role as a “super-connector”

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) made its debut at Paris-based Viva Technology 2026 (VivaTech), Europe’s leading startup and tech event held from 17 to 20 June. The PolyU delegation was led by Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation), and Prof. Zijian ZHENG, PolyU Vice President (Knowledge Transfer), with an exhibition booth in the Hong Kong Pavilion under the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). The University also hosted two inspiring panel discussions, marking a major milestone in expanding its global footprint and strengthening ties between Hong Kong and European markets. At the exhibition, the University showcased five outstanding PolyU startups and their innovations across high-growth tech domains, including artificial intelligence (AI), optoelectronic tech, health tech, sustainability and smart manufacturing. These promising ventures leveraged the pivotal platform of VivaTech to connect with global industry players, investors and corporate innovators, exploring opportunities for expanding overseas business collaboration and knowledge exchange. Among the featured PolyU startups, Bacbudy Limited and LeafIoT Technology Limited were named in the organiser’s top 400 participating startups using sustainable innovation to tackle climate, healthcare, digital inclusion and education challenges. PolyU also hosted an exclusive thematic session on-site and engaged in high-level industry dialogue to deepen collaboration between Europe and Hong Kong. At session titled “Breaking Barriers with Autonomous Systems: Transforming Industries with AI Innovation”, Prof. Christopher Chao stated in his opening remarks, “Bringing Hong Kong and France together at VivaTech underscores the importance of cross-continental collaboration in shaping the future of technology. At PolyU, we embrace this global outlook and actively foster technology-driven partnerships worldwide.” He also commended the showcased startups for their demonstration of resilience and creativity, as well as their commitment to improving lives with technology and innovation.  “By leading startups to international platforms such as VivaTech, we empower them to expand overseas, explore new markets and broaden their networks, thereby contributing to the global development of Hong Kong’s innovation and technology industries,” said Prof. Chao. Through his keynote address, Prof. Zheng Zijian shared his insights on how Hong Kong is scaling innovation as a leading AI hub and urged the global audience to seize new opportunities in Chinese Mainland. He remarked, “In Chinese Mainland, PolyU has over 1,000 partner universities and research institutes, over 50,000 alumni and 14 alumni networks. Backed by our robust network of 12 PolyU Mainland Translational Research Institutes, thousands of collaborative projects have been or are being undertaken. With such advantages, we are poised to fully integrate cutting-edge PolyU research with the industrial strengths and vast market scale of Chinese Mainland to create tangible societal benefits.” At the fireside chat of the networking reception titled “Hong Kong Tech Night: Where Innovation Meets Opportunity”, Prof. Zheng shared PolyU’s knowledge transfer strategies and explored the potential of Hong Kong-France collaboration. During the Hong Kong Seminar-cum-Networking Reception hosted by HKTDC, Prof. Christopher Chao engaged in an insightful executive dialogue with other leaders at the forefront of Hong Kong’s innovation and technology ecosystem. At this high-level seminar with the theme “Talent and Infrastructure Powering the Hong Kong Tech Leadership and Global Collaboration”, Prof. Chao discussed how academia-industry collaboration could help translate cutting-edge research into commercially viable solutions as well as attract and nurture talents, thereby strengthening Kong Kong’s position as a world-class innovation hub. More importantly, he explored how academic-driven initiatives, benefitting from Hong Kong’s unique role as a “Super Connector”, can further drive Hong Kong-Europe synergy in advancing global innovation and technology development. VivaTech is one of Europe’s biggest startup and tech events and is held annually in Paris, France. The event connects startups, tech leaders, major companies and investors, bringing together world-premiere demos, launches and conferences in a collaborative ecosystem. For full details of PolyU’s participation at VivaTech 2026, please visit this webpage. Representatives from the participating PolyU startups shared their entrepreneurial journeys and innovations with the international audience. ***END***

PolyU, EDB and SCOLAR co-organise International Summit on Use of AI in Language Learning and Teaching 2026; Showcase latest AI-related innovations in language education

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is hosting the International Summit on the Use of AI in Language Learning and Teaching 2026 (AIinLT 2026) from 21 to 24 June. Organised by the PolyU Department of English and Communication (ENGL), in collaboration with the Education Bureau (EDB) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR), AIinLT 2026 provides a dynamic platform for teachers in primary, secondary and tertiary education, as well as education researchers and professionals, to exchange insights and experience. The Summit features keynote presentations and a panel discussion exploring the latest applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in language education, as well as workshops designed to advance teaching and learning practices with AI.  The opening ceremony, followed by the first keynote address and panel discussion, was held today in the Jockey Club Auditorium at PolyU. Officiating guests included Dr CHOI Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government; Prof. CAO Jiannong, PolyU Vice President (Education),and Dr Anissa CHAN WONG Lai-kuen, Chairperson of SCOLAR.  Dr Choi Yuk-lin said that the event marked the grand unveiling of Digital Education Week 2026, which would be leveraged to effectively connect experts, scholars and relevant sectors around the world to exchange successful experiences, with a view to establishing an international platform for the sustained advancement of digital education, and showcasing the learning outcomes of Hong Kong students in digital education. Dr Choi noted that the Blueprint for Digital Education Development in Primary and Secondary Schools (the Blueprint) just announced would serve as a roadmap to provide guidance for schools to promote AI education from primary through secondary school levels. She emphasised that the EDB is driving the comprehensive implementation of “AI for all schools” and “AI for all students” with a view to ensuring our education system aligns with the country’s positioning of Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology centre by providing talent support. Prof. Cao Jiannong highlighted PolyU’s commitment to advancing language education through the integration of AI in language learning and teaching. Through the PolyU Education 4.0 initiative, the University has embraced purposeful, pedagogically sound applications of AI to enrich learning and equip students with the skills needed to thrive in future workplaces. This commitment is reflected in the University’s new Language Education Institute, which will provide all PolyU students with opportunities to harness AI to support their language learning journeys. It is also evident in the University’s emphasis on the humanities, which play a vital role in helping students and educators use AI ethically while fostering deeper learning and creativity. Dr Anissa Chan said that SCOLAR has remained steadfast in its mission for the past 30 years to enhance the language proficiency of the people of Hong Kong. Looking ahead, SCOLAR will work in line with the Blueprint to bring together expertise from various sectors to shape a new landscape for language education. She hoped that the Summit would not only mark a new chapter in integrating AI into language learning, but also serve as an important bridge to foster innovation across sectors. Prof. Mairéad PRATSCHKE, an independent researcher and adviser specialising in AI strategy, ethical governance and human-centred design, delivered the first keynote address. In her presentation, she explored language education within hybrid communities—learning environments in which human educators, peers and AI agents each play integral roles. She also outlined the distinct contributions of both human and machine participants and their evolving impact on the future of education. The panel discussion that followed was moderated by Prof. Jenifer HO, Associate Professor of ENGL, and Dr Rickey LU, Senior Lecturer of ENGL. Themed “AI Across Educational Landscapes: Insights, Challenges, and Knowledge Exchange,” the panel consisted of educators from local primary and secondary schools, as well as scholars in the fields of education innovation and languages, promoting cross-sector dialogue. Throughout AIinLT 2026, a number of local and international scholars and experts will deliver keynote addresses (in alphabetical order by surname): Prof. CHEUNG Chi-keung, Professor and Dean of Education at The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Prof. Jang Ho LEE, Professor of English Education at Chung-Ang University, Korea; Prof. Tony MCENERY, Chair Professor of Corpus Linguistics and AI for the Humanities at PolyU; Prof. Benjamin Luke MOORHOUSE, Associate Professor at City University of Hong Kong; and Prof. YANG Hongxia, Chair Professor of Generative Artificial Intelligence at PolyU. They will share key insights on AI and its ongoing role in transforming language learning and teaching across a multitude of learning contexts.  As part of AIinLT 2026, a series of hands-on workshops will be held on 23 and 24 June to provide educators with practical solutions for integrating AI into the classroom, thereby creating more engaging and personalised learning experiences that more effectively meet individual student needs.  For more details of the International Summit on the Use of AI in Language Learning and Teaching 2026, please visit: https://events.polyu.edu.hk/aiinlt2026/home ***END***  

PolyU rises steadily in the latest QS World University Rankings, securing a place among the global top 50

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has risen to 50th place globally in the latest QS World University Rankings 2027 released by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), marking a record-high position for the University. The milestone reflects strong international recognition of PolyU’s academic excellence, research and innovation capabilities, and overall institutional strength, further elevating its standing in the global higher education landscape. Dr LAM Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman, said, “The year 2027 marks the 90th anniversary of PolyU. At this particularly significant moment, the University is delighted to have achieved another excellent result in the latest QS World University Rankings 2027. The PolyU team and I are greatly encouraged and inspired by this achievement, which is truly gratifying. PolyU has progressed in a consistent and steady manner in accordance with its development blueprint, moving forward pragmatically and purposefully. Today, the University has successfully joined the ranks of the world’s top 50 universities, reaching an important milestone in its development journey. This achievement has not come easily. It is the result of the dedicated efforts of all PolyU staff, especially the senior management, as well as the strong support and guidance of all stakeholders, including our alumni, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Central Government. On behalf of PolyU, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to them all. Looking back to 2019, when I was first appointed as the Council Chairman, Hong Kong was going through an extremely difficult period in its history. The black-clad violence at that time caused serious damage to the University campus, and there were misunderstandings and negative comments about PolyU from some sectors of society. In the face of such complicated situations and difficult circumstances, our work was highly challenging and carried enormous pressure. However, all members of the PolyU community united and worked tirelessly, upholding the University motto, “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”. Through these efforts, PolyU’s QS World University Rankings have continued to rise steadily, from 106th in 2019 to 75th in 2021, 65th in 2023, 57th in 2025, and now 50th in 2027. These results are truly encouraging. As the Nation is committed to becoming a leading country in education, technology, and talent cultivation, PolyU, as an world-class innovative university with affection for both the country and Hong Kong, is deeply conscious of its responsibilities and the long journey ahead. We will fully integrate into and serve the Nation’s overall development strategy, remain steadfast in our educational mission, and strive to nurture outstanding talent with a strong sense of national pride, a global perspective, and a commitment to serving society and contributing to the country. While continuing to pursue excellence in education and research, PolyU will also give its full support to Hong Kong’s development into an international hub for post-secondary education and high-calibre talents, and an international innovation and technology centre. PolyU has long faced a serious shortage of campus land and space, which has greatly constrained the University’s long-term and healthy development. Faced with this pressing issue, a practical solution must be found as soon as possible. We will step up collaboration with provincial and municipal governments as well as universities in the Chinese Mainland to help alleviate the current pressure on land resources and space. From a long-term development perspective, Hong Kong is formulating its first Five-Year Plan, and we hope that the Northern Metropolis University Town will provide PolyU with sufficient land and development space, laying a stronger foundation and creating more favourable conditions for the University’s future expansion. PolyU looks forward to the continued support of the Central and HKSAR Governments, various sectors of society and all University stakeholders, so that together we can move ahead with determination and courage, scale new heights in learning and teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international impact, make greater contributions to Hong Kong and the Nation, and achieve new peaks in world university rankings.” Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, said, “PolyU’s steady rise in global rankings over the years is clear evidence of the University’s substantial progress in learning and teaching, impactful research, and other key areas. Looking ahead, PolyU will further integrate into and serve the Nation’s overall development strategy, fully leveraging the University’s unique strengths. With the integrated development of education, technology and talents as our core focus, and building on our existing network of translational research institutes across 12 cities in the Chinese Mainland, we will respond to local industrial and societal needs, accelerate the application of frontier technologies, promote the commercialisation of research outcomes, and deepen industry-academia-research collaboration, thereby making greater contributions to national development, high-quality growth and the building of the Nation into a global science and technology powerhouse. At the same time, PolyU will support Hong Kong’s development into an international hub for post-secondary education. We are actively seeking to participate in the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town to lay a solid foundation for the University’s long-term growth, while steadily advancing the upgrading of the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPCE) into a private university.” Breaking into the global top 50 marks an important achievement in PolyU’s development. The University will continue to progress steadily, focusing on world-class learning and teaching as well as world-leading research and innovation, and pressing ahead with its long-term development plans to contribute to higher education as well as the development of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world.   ***END***

PolyU and Deep Space Exploration Lab jointly launch first National deep space cultural and creative works promotion event, blending aerospace with arts to spark enthusiasm for space exploration

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has long been committed to aerospace development, having participated in multiple national deep space exploration missions and actively supported aerospace science popularisation initiatives. PolyU and Deep Space Exploration Lab (DSEL) jointly launched the First National Deep Space Cultural and Creative Promotional Event, themed “Dreaming of Deep Space, Sharing the Future,” soliciting outstanding cultural and creative works from across the country. The final round of judging was completed yesterday (16 June), followed by an award presentation ceremony and expert talks held on the PolyU campus. The series of activities has promoted the deep integration of science popularisation and technological innovation, injecting new interest into the Nation’s future deep space exploration endeavours. The event was also co-organised by the International Deep Space Exploration Association, and supported by various institutions, including the China Soong Ching Ling Science and Culture Centre for Young People, China International Communications Group, the Tsinghua University Art and Science Research Center, the Beijing-Hong Kong Talent Exchange Centre, the Beijing- Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre, the Hong Kong Science Popularization and Science Fiction Academy, the Macao Science Center and AstroReach (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. The award presentation ceremony was attended by Mr LIU Maozhou, First-level Inspector of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation); Mr YU Jike, Deputy Director of DSEL; Mr Hsu Hoi Shan, President of the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre; Prof. LU Xiaobo, Director of the Tsinghua University Art Museum; and Mr LAU Kai-ip, Museum Director of the Hong Kong Science Museum. In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Christopher Chao said, “PolyU’s research teams have been deeply involved in several key missions, including the Chang’e and Tianwen series, contributing Hong Kong’s wisdom. This event, jointly organised by PolyU and DSEL, has created a platform connecting technology, culture and future imagination through a range of activities, including a cultural and creative works promotion campaign, expert talks and a special exhibition. It advances the collaborative development of science popularisation and technological innovation, while further inspiring young people’s interest in exploring aerospace technology.” Mr Yu Jike remarked, “PolyU is deeply integrated into the Nation’s deep space exploration endeavours. Leveraging its strong research capabilities and talent, the University has contributed to the successful implementation of major aerospace missions, including the Chang’e and Tianwen series. With the theme of ‘cross-disciplinary integration of deep space exploration and cultural creativity’, this event has fostered a high-quality platform where technology blends with art, while enhanced exchanges between Chinese mainland and Hong Kong are fostered, and professional exploration and public creativity coexist.” Comprising a student category and an open category, the event received more than 600 submissions, of which 100 were from Hong Kong and Macao. The open category engaged participants from all sectors of society—from enterprises, research institutions and individual creators to cross-sector teams—demonstrating broad participation in the event and its social influence. The judging panel consisted of senior experts from Chinese mainland and Hong Kong in the fields of deep space science, science popularisation and communication, as well as art and design. After rigorous evaluation, a number of outstanding works with both scientific depth and artistic appeal were selected. The event featured multi-tiered awards to recognise outstanding participants. Among them, a student team from Tsinghua University were awarded the overall Grand Prize for their work “Pu Gong: A Future Vision for Interstellar Scientific Exploration.” It proposes a novel concept for interstellar study tours, including the design of a multifunctional interstellar mothership and the establishment of a complete interstellar transportation system, enabling young people to journey into deep space for planetary exploration. The expert talks further promoted the organic combination of academic exchange and science popularisation. Ms LIN Shan, Chief Expert of the Deep Space Exploration Science Popularisation Centre; Prof. WU Bo, Associate Director of the PolyU Research Centre for Deep Space Exploration; and Ms ZHOU Wu, Invited Expert of the Deep Space Exploration Science Popularisation Centre, each delivered keynote addresses. Their presentations covered diverse topics, including the ongoing progress of human deep space exploration, PolyU efforts in deep space exploration research and aerospace science popularisation, as well as AI-empowered science fiction writing. These were followed by a panel discussion themed “Popularising and Promoting Aerospace Science Exploration.” Moderated by Ms ZHAO Xin, Head of Brand Operations at Deep Space Exploration Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., the session featured Ms Zhou Wu; Mr LIU Yanjun, Chairman of the Greater Bay Area Aerospace Science Popularisation Centre; Dr SO Chu-wing, Curator (Space) of the Hong Kong Space Museum; and Mr LI Zheng, General Manager of the Zhuhai Aerospace Land. They discussed cross-sector collaboration and future directions for the promotion of space science popularisation, while also engaging in a lively Q&A session with the audience. Parallel with the event, PolyU hosted a special exhibition titled “Dreaming of Deep Space”, which revisited the Nation’s remarkable journey in deep space exploration from lunar orbit missions to Mars exploration through images, videos and physical prototypes. The exhibition attracted numerous students, staff and members of the public, allowing them to experience the allure of deep space exploration up close while also vividly illustrating the cross-disciplinary integration of aerospace technology and cultural creativity. PolyU hosted a special exhibition titled “Deep Space Exploration in China” in parallel with the event, revisiting the Nation’s remarkable journey in deep space exploration from lunar orbit missions to Mars exploration through images, videos and physical prototypes. PolyU hosted a special exhibition titled “Deep Space Exploration in China” in parallel with the event, revisiting the Nation’s remarkable journey in deep space exploration from lunar orbit missions to Mars exploration through images, videos and physical prototypes. This promotional event was a pioneering nationwide deep space cultural and creative initiative. By showcasing vibrant and diverse creative works, it transformed distant aerospace technology into cultural experiences that are perceptible, relatable and participatory. This not only enhanced public understanding and interest in deep space exploration, but also provides a new platform for the integration of aerospace technology with arts and culture. Additionally, the event has deepened collaboration between Chinese mainland and Hong Kong in the fields of aerospace science popularisation and cultural communication, further expanding the reach of China’s deep space exploration culture.   ***END***

PolyU hosts inaugural HKSAR “3Chuang Competition” Contest, unleashing innovative youth power to drive innovation and technology development in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to advancing knowledge transfer, encouraging students to embrace a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, address social challenges with professional knowledge and contribute to National development. As the sole organising university of the inaugural Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Contest of the 16th National E-commerce “Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship” Competition for College Students (3Chuang Competition), PolyU hosted the HKSAR Contest cum Award Presentation Ceremony on 12 June. A total of 12 elite teams garnered 12 awards in the Contest, earning the opportunity to advance to the National Finals. The inaugural HKSAR Contest of the 3Chuang Competition aims to encourage local tertiary students to break barriers across institutions, regions, cultures and disciplines. It brings together innovative ideas and unlocks entrepreneurial potential, further fostering the development of Hong Kong’s innovation and technology ecosystem. Outstanding teams will have the chance to advance to the National Finals and expand their horizons. In his speech, Prof. DONG Cheng, Associate Vice President (Knowledge Transfer) of PolyU, remarked, “PolyU is honoured to be the sole organiser of the inaugural HKSAR Contest of the 3Chuang Competition. We are committed to driving the translation of research outcomes into impact for societal benefits. The National competition provides a platform for young people to unlock their potential in innovation and entrepreneurship, bringing together remarkable talents, who can learn from each other with a creative mindset, serve society and contribute to National development.” Prof. Dong added that PolyU had set up 15 translational research institutes and centres across the Chinese Mainland. He encouraged the winning teams to leverage PolyU’s extensive innovation network, incubation support and market resources, thereby better integrating into the overall National development, tapping into Chinese Mainland markets, and converting innovation outcomes into tangible momentum for social advancement. Prof. LI Qi, Chairman of the Competition Organizing Committee (COC) of the 3Chuang Competition from Xi’an Jiaotong University, has vigorously supported PolyU in hosting the HKSAR Contest and fully recognised its efforts. He remarked in his speech, “A total of 34 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions and Special Administrative Regions across the Nation have taken part in this year’s Competition, which also marks the HKSAR’s debut participation. We especially appreciate the tremendous support and assistance from PolyU’s senior management, faculty and students. They have contributed to the HKSAR and brought glory to the Nation, laying a fertile ground for nurturing ‘3Chuang’ talents while connecting domestic and overseas stakeholders for the development of ‘3Chuang’. We warmly welcome outstanding teams from Hong Kong to the National Finals, to achieve even greater results.” The National 3Chuang Competition landed in Hong Kong last year. Since its kick-off, it has attracted numerous cross-region, cross-institution and cross-discipline teams to participate in the university-level round of competition. Team members come from 32 higher education institutions across Hong Kong, Macao, the Chinese Mainland and overseas. In addition to major universities in Hong Kong, prestigious names such as Guangdong University of Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen University, the City University of Macau and the University of Toronto in Canada also feature. Eventually, 29 outstanding teams from the Regular, International and Practical Tracks entered the HKSAR Contest, where they competed before a jury comprising experts from academia, industry and investment sectors for accolades including the First Prize, Second Prize and Best Entrepreneurship Award. The COC of the 3Chuang Competition will announce the list of teams who qualified for the National Finals after all provincial-level contests conclude later this month. The winners of the HKSAR Contest of the 16th 3Chuang Competition are as follows (the order of the teams winning the same award is arranged according to their names in Chinese): Track Award Winning Team Applying College Collaborating College(s) Winning Project Regular Track First Prize OnAn Technology Hong Kong Metropolitan University The Hong Kong Polytechnic University AI and 3D Printing-Based Posthumous Facial Restoration Platform Dr.Fresh The Hong Kong Polytechnic University N.A. Space Mold Prevention Expert: Full-Chain Moisture & Mold Control Management and Optimization for Warehousing HK Knowledge-in-Action Innovation Team The Hong Kong Polytechnic University N.A. Smart Sandplay Therapy System for Children with Autism AIOFEYE The Hong Kong Polytechnic University The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Jinan University, Southern University of Science and Technology, Huai’an University AI-Powered Retinal Imaging Screening for Community Eye Health Management: Building a Closed-Loop Service of Screening, Risk Stratification, Referral, and Follow-up Second Prize PolyNova The Hong Kong Polytechnic University N.A. Lingmao Youli — An AIGC-Powered Digital Cultural and Creative E-Commerce Platform for Intangible Cultural Heritage Tourism MasterTrip The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hanshan Normal University, Sun Yat-sen University GlobeTrail ZhiZai ING Team The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University, City University of Macau Cicada Agent - Personalized Autonomous Learning AI Platform Yunfan Intelligent Computing The Hong Kong Polytechnic University N.A. QiShou: Hong Kong AI Sign Language Translation Public Service Platform Reminder Smart Pillbox Team The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance, East China University of Science and Technology Automated, Dose-Controlled, Networked Smart Pillbox — Ushering in a New Era of Personalised and Precise Medication for the Elderly Cyber Bian Que The Hong Kong Polytechnic University N.A. Smart Medchain: AI-Powered Cross-border prescription review service International Track Second Prize giveme_5 The Hong Kong Polytechnic University University of Toronto, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Lingnan University “SilverLink” Smart Elderly Care Solution Platform Practical Track Best Entrepreneurship Award The Pear Ideals Four The Hong Kong Polytechnic University N.A. AkkMore Prebiotic: Healthy, Tasty, Low-Carbon and Digital Storytelling Founded in 2009, the 3Chuang Competition is a National entrepreneurship competition endorsed by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. With the aim of fostering among tertiary students an innovative mindset, creative thinking, entrepreneurial capabilities and team collaboration in practical scenarios, it is one of the largest and most influential innovation and entrepreneurship competitions focused on e-commerce for tertiary students in the Nation. The Competition has attracted numerous aspiring student entrepreneurs over the years, and this year alone saw over 280,000 teams from nearly 1,500 universities nationwide sign up. In addition to launching the HKSAR Contest for the first time, an International Track has been introduced to deepen international cooperation, boost regional economic development, facilitate cultural and academic exchanges, and promote balanced development of e-commerce worldwide. For more information, please visit the official website. “OnAn Technology” from Hong Kong Metropolitan University won the First Prize in the Regular Track for its project “AI and 3D Printing-Based Posthumous Facial Restoration Platform”. “Dr.Fresh” from PolyU won the First Prize in the Regular Track for its project “Space Mold Prevention Expert: Full-Chain Moisture & Mold Control Management and Optimization for Warehousing”. “HK Knowledge-in-Action Innovation Team” from PolyU won the First Prize of the Regular Track for its project “Smart Sandplay Therapy System for Children with Autism”. “AIOFEYE” from PolyU won the First Prize of the Regular Track for its project “AI-Powered Retinal Imaging Screening for Community Eye Health Management: Building a Closed-Loop Service of Screening, Risk Stratification, Referral, and Follow-up”. “The Pear Ideals Four” from PolyU won the Best Entrepreneurship Award of the Practical Track for its project “AkkMore Prebiotic: Healthy, Tasty, Low-Carbon and Digital Storytelling”. “giveme_5” from PolyU won the Second Prize of the International Track for its project “‘SilverLink’ Smart Elderly Care Solution Platform”. ***END***

PolyU develops smart assistant “AI-Care” that automatically identifies daily tasks and provides guidance to support independent living for visually impaired people

Hong Kong currently has nearly 200,000 visually impaired people. Although white canes and guide dogs can assist with basic mobility, daily tasks such as shopping and taking public transport remain challenging for them. A research team at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed an innovative assistive system, “AI-Care”,which is driven by an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) model. Connecting smart glasses and a mobile application, the system proactively detects surrounding objects and provides voice guidanceto help visually impaired people handle daily tasks independently. The team has partnered with industry collaborator Hillming Smartech Ltd. (HSL) to advance commercialisation, and with the Hong Kong Society for the Blind (HKSB) to launch community trials, aiming to inject new momentum into building an inclusive smart city. The launch ceremony of the AI-Care project was held yesterday (10 June) at the PolyU campus. It was officiated by Prof. the Hon. Kam-fai WONG, Legislative Council Member of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China; Prof. Changwen CHEN, Interim Dean of the PolyU Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences; Prof. Qing LI, Head of the PolyU Department of Computing; alongside Mr Sean FONG, Chief Executive of HKSB; Mr YANG Zhiming, Technical Director of Assistive Technology of the China Culture and Information Service Center of the Visually Handicapped (China Braille Library); Mr Hillming LI, CEO of HSL; and Ms Shirley TSANG, Director of Rehabilitation Services at HKSB. Project leader Prof. Jing LI, Associate Professor of the PolyU Department of Computing and Associate Director of the PolyU Research Institute for Generative AI also attended the event. Addressing the ceremony, Prof. Changwen Chen said, “PolyU is committed to impactful research. We believe the true measure of technological innovation lies not only in how smart our AI becomes, but also in how deeply it empowers those who need it most. By transforming AI from a passive tool into a proactive companion, AI-Care not just advances the development of assistive technology, but also promotes social inclusion.” Mr Sean Fong remarked, “AI-Care empowers people with visual impairments to transcend physical limitations, enabling them to live more independently and participate in society with confidence. Many of HKSB’s service users have already benefited from such innovations, and we are eager to integrate this novel system into our services.” Mr Hillming Li said, “The Government has been a strong advocate for building an accessible city. AI-Care is not only a successful transfer of cutting-edge technology, but also an innovation with a human touch, empowering underserved communities to experience the world more fully and embrace greater opportunities for a richer and more fulfilling life. We hope to further expand its application and even scale this technology across the country.” AI-Care is built upon an advanced AI model that is adapted from cutting-edge Visual Question Answering and Natural Language Processing frameworks specifically for daily shopping scenarios, covering the full workflow from product searching and payment to receipt audit. Breaking away from the passive “question-and-answer” approach of traditional digital assistive tools, it uses smart glasses to capture the user’s perspective, thereby proactively identifying everyday objects. The system then transfers image data to the mobile application for processing and analysis, and generates real-time audio instructions. Smart glasses available on the market mostly target sighted users, relying on visual context and sight-dependent cues, and therefore do not fully meet the unique needs of visually impaired users. AI-Care, on the other hand, adopted rigorous post-training for its AI model using domain-specific data, making its image recognition and voice guidance better aligned with the spatial perception and cognitive needs of visually impaired users, and ensuring precise, actionable guidance. The system completed phased testing in the first quarter of this year, involving 17 visually impaired participants, and achieved an average satisfaction score of 93. The team plans to scale up the trials through continued collaboration with the social welfare sector. The research team demonstrated the current functions of AI-Care at the event. Prof. Jing Li added, “For our team, what we most look forward to is seeing how AI research can truly support independent living for the visually impaired. While current AI models show impressive generic skills, enabling them to understand users’ needs as flexibly and accurately as human assistants, to know how to provide help and to intervene proactively at the right moment remains a major challenge. AI-Care embodies a human-centric approach to technology and marks a major step forward in the development of AI-powered assistive tools.” Supported by HK$5 million in funding from the HKSAR Government’s Innovation and Technology Fund and other industry sponsors, the research team has completed the design of the core AI model and verified the stability of the cloud-based server. The team is currently working to enhance the system’s memory management, optimise the hardware and advance prototyping, with the aim of commercialising the technology and expanding its application.   ***END***